Vehicle running-gear



(No Model.)

L. F. CASE, Jr. VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR.

No. 461,110. Patented Oct. 13, 1891.

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aHor/mz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE'WIS F. CASE, JR, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

VEHICLE RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,110, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed June 4, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS F. CASE, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in running-gear for vehicles; and ithas forits objects among others to provide an improved running-gear which shall be capable of turningshortindependent of and not using the body of the vehicle as a coupling or reach. I connect the rear springs to a truss to the rear of the front axle, and upon these rear springs attach the lower portion of the fifthwheel, the front springs being connected with the said truss and carrying the upper portion of the fifth-wheel, the king-bolt passing through the front bolster and truss and having secured thereto the forward ends of the rear springs. I improve upon the arrangement of the parts in general.

Other objects and advantages of the inveniion will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with theletters of reference marked thereon, forma part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan of myimproved runhing-gear. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line e 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line :1 0c of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in which they occur.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the front axle, and A the rear one, of any well-known or approved construction.

B are the rear springs, which are preferabl t leaf-springs, at their rear ends clipped or. otherwise held to the rear axle in any sultable manner and near their center curved downward, as shown in Fig. 2. To the rear of this downward drop or curve there 1s attached to these rear springs in any suitable manner the rear cross-bar C, upon which the vehicle-body (not shown) is designed to be fastened.

To the rear springs, forward of the drop or curve therein, is attached the curved bar D, whichforms the lower half of the circle and upon which the other half is designed to turn.

E are the front springs, which are preferably leaf-springs, and at their forward ends clipped or otherwise secured to the front axle. At their rear ends they carry the upper curved half E of the circle. This may be integral with the front springs or it may be a separate piece secured to the rear ends of the said front springs in any suitable man- 1161.

F is the front holster. It is arranged to the rear of the front axle and between the same and the circle, as shown. It is supported upon the truss G, which is formed of two pieces g g, as seen best in Fig. 3, with aspacing-block g between them beneath the central portion, as shown in Fig. 3, and through a the front bolster and through these pieces g g and the spacing-block passes the king-bolt II, which is in the form of an inverted T, with the three extremities screw-threaded, as shown in Fig. 3. To the lateral arms of the king-bolt are secured the forward ends/of the rear springs, which are inclined inwardly at their forward ends, as seen in Fig. 1, the manner of connection-being shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The front springs are held between the two pieces g g at the ends thereof in any suitable manner, as shown, and at their outer ends these pieces 9 g carry the steps I, as shown in Fig. 1.

By this construction and arrangement of partsI obtain a very easy-riding running-gear, with an extra length of spring, and one which is durable and not liable to get out of repair.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination, with the rear springs, the cross-bar, and the lowerhalf of the circle thereon, of the front springs, the upper half of the circle carried thereby, and the truss between the front axle and the circle, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rear springs and the lower half of the circle carried thereby, of the front springs carrying the upper half of the circle and extended rear of the front ends of the rear springs, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the rear springs andthe lower half of the circle carried thereby, of the front springs carrying the upper half of the circle, and the truss supporting the forward ends of the rear springs and arranged between the ends of the front springs, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the rear and front axles, of the rear springs connected to the rear axle and inclined toward each other, the rear cross-bar on said springs, the lower half of the circle on said springs, the front springs connected to the'front axle and carrying the upper half of the circle, the truss supporting the front ends of the rear-springs, and the king-bolt holding the ends of the rear springs and passed through the truss, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the rear springs, I 

